Ray Charles: Blindness, Death, Wife, and Sinatra’s Nickname

Few musicians have left a mark as deep and wide as Ray Charles. Blind by the age of seven, he went on to reshape American music across soul, R&B, and country, earning 17 Grammy Awards along the way. This article walks through the key chapters of his life—his blindness, marriages, death, and the nickname that stuck.

Full name: Ray Charles Robinson ·
Born: September 23, 1930 ·
Died: June 10, 2004 ·
Cause of death: Liver disease ·
Blind from glaucoma at age: 7 ·
Grammy Awards: 17

The key facts table below summarizes the essential biographical data about Ray Charles.

When did Ray Charles go blind?

At what age did Ray Charles lose his sight?

Ray Charles began losing his sight around age five and was completely blind by age seven. The Smithsonian Music (national museum) notes that his right eye was removed after it became painful, and he had lost all vision by 1937.

What caused Ray Charles’ blindness?

The commonly cited cause is glaucoma, though some secondary sources describe it as complications from the disease. The Biography.com (reference publisher) lists glaucoma as the reason, and the Florida Division of Arts and Culture (state arts agency) summarizes his blindness as beginning around age seven.

Bottom line: Ray Charles lost his sight completely by 1937 at age seven. The cause is almost universally reported as glaucoma, though the exact clinical timeline involves a painful eye removal.

What did Ray Charles pass away from?

What was the immediate cause of Ray Charles’ death?

Ray Charles died from complications of liver disease on June 10, 2004. The The New York Times (leading U.S. newspaper) confirmed he was 73 and that liver disease was the cause.

Where did Ray Charles die?

He passed away at his home in Beverly Hills, California, according to Biography.com (reference publisher). The location was his residence, not a hospital.

The pattern: a legendary career that spanned more than five decades ended quietly at home, far from the stage where he had commanded audiences.

Why did Ray Charles’ wife leave him?

Who was Ray Charles’ wife?

Ray Charles was married twice. His first marriage was to Eileen Williams in 1951, which ended in divorce the following year. In 1955 he married Della Beatrice Howard Robinson; they separated in 1977. Wikipedia (community encyclopedia) and IMDb (entertainment database) both list Della as his spouse from 1955 to 1977.

How many times was Ray Charles married?

He married twice. No further marriages were recorded after the divorce from Della.

Bottom line: Both marriages ended largely because of his infidelity and drug use. The exact moment Della decided to leave is not publicly documented, but the pattern of addiction and betrayal is consistent across biographies.

What did Frank Sinatra call Ray Charles?

Why did Frank Sinatra call Ray Charles ‘The Genius’?

Frank Sinatra famously said of Ray Charles: “The only genius in the business.” The nickname “The Genius” stuck and is still used today. The Florida Division of Arts and Culture (state arts agency) refers to him as the “genius of soul.” Sinatra’s comment came from deep respect for Charles’s ability to blend gospel, blues, and jazz into something entirely new.

Bottom line: When the Chairman of the Board himself anoints you the only genius, it’s a label that lasts a lifetime.

What are Ray Charles’ most famous songs?

What hit songs did Ray Charles record?

His catalog includes enduring classics: “Hit the Road Jack,” “Georgia on My Mind,” “I Got a Woman,” “What’d I Say,” and “Unchain My Heart.” Biography.com (reference publisher) lists these among his most recognized works.

Which Ray Charles song won a Grammy?

“Georgia on My Mind” won two Grammy Awards in 1960, and “Hit the Road Jack” won one in 1961. Over his career he collected 17 Grammys, per The New York Times (leading U.S. newspaper).

What this means: His sound was so distinctive that each hit carved a new lane in popular music, influencing everyone from Stevie Wonder to Van Morrison.

Quotes from legends

“The only genius in the business.”

— Frank Sinatra, on Ray Charles

“I was born with music inside me.”

— Ray Charles, reflecting on his gift

The trade-off: his personal life was messy, but that same emotional depth is what made his performances so raw and unforgettable.

For music fans exploring his legacy, the choice is clear: start with “Georgia on My Mind,” then dig into the albums he recorded after losing his sight—each one a lesson in perseverance.

For a deeper exploration of his later years and financial affairs, readers can look into the details of Ray Charless estate and legacy.

Frequently asked questions

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